Apparatuses and methods for flexible displays

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods for forming displays are claimed. One embodiment of the invention relates to forming a flexible active matrix display along a length of flexible substrate. Another embodiment of the invention relates to forming multiple flexible displays along a continuous flexible substrate. Another embodiment of the invention relates to forming a flexible display along a flexible reflective substrate. Another embodiment of the invention relates to using FSA generally with a flexible web process material. Another embodiment of the invention relates to using FSA and a deterministic method such as “pick and place” to place objects onto a rigid substrate or onto a web process material. Another embodiment of the invention relates to using web processing to deposit and/or pattern display material through an in-line process.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Pat. Appl. Ser. No.09/270,146, filed Mar. 16, 1999, now abandoned.

This application also claims the benefit of the earlier filing date ofthe co-pending provisional application of Jeffrey Jay Jacobsen entitled,“Apparatuses and Methods for Forming Assemblies” filed Feb. 5, 1999,Ser. No. 60/118,887 and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of fabricatingassemblies such as display panels. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to apparatuses and methods for (1) forming a flexibleactive matrix display along a length of a flexible substrate; (2)forming multiple displays along a continuous flexible substrate; (3)forming a flexible display along a flexible reflective substrate; (4)using fluidic self-assembly (FSA) generally with a flexible web processmaterial; (5) using FSA and a deterministic method, such as “pick andplace,” to place objects onto a rigid substrate or onto a web processmaterial; and, (6) using web processing to deposit and/or patterndisplay material through an in-line process.

2. Description of Related Art

Fabrication of display panels is well known in the art. Display panelsmay be comprised of active matrix or passive matrix panels. Activematrix panels and passive matrix panels may be either transmissive orreflective. Transmissive displays include polysilicon thin-filmtransistor (TFT) displays, and high-resolution polysilicon displays.Reflective displays typically comprise single crystal silicon integratedcircuit substrates that have reflective pixels.

Liquid crystals, electroluminescent (EL) materials, organic lightemitting diodes (OLEDs), up and downconverting phosphor (U/DCP),electrophoretic (EP) materials, or light emitting diodes (LEDs) may beused in fabricating flat-panel display panels. Each of these is known inthe art and is discussed briefly below.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) can have an active-matrix backplane inwhich thin-film transistors are co-located with LCD pixels. Flat-paneldisplays employing LCDs generally include five different components orlayers: a White or sequential Red, Green, Blue light source, a firstpolarizing filter, that is mounted on one side of a circuit panel onwhich the TFTs are arrayed to form pixels, a filter plate containing atleast three primary colors arranged into pixels, and a second polarizingfilter. A volume between the circuit panel and the filter plate isfilled with a liquid crystal material. This material will rotate thepolarized light when an electric field is applied between the circuitpanel and a transparent ground electrode affixed to the filter plate ora cover glass. Thus, when a particular pixel of the display is turnedon, the liquid crystal material rotates polarized light beingtransmitted through the material so that it will pass through the secondpolarizing filter. Some liquid crystal materials, however, require nopolarizers. Polarizers are made by a company known as SRI. LCDs may alsohave a passive matrix backplane which is usually two planes of stripelectrodes which sandwich the liquid crystal material. However, passivematrices generally provide a lower quality display compared to activematrices. Liquid crystal material includes, but is not limited to,twisted nematic (TN), Super TN, double STN, and ferroelectric. U/DCP andEP displays are formed in a similar fashion except the active medium isdifferent (e.g., upconverting gas, downconverting gas, electrophoreticmaterials).

EL displays have one or more pixels that are energized by an alternatingcurrent (AC) that must be provided to each pixel by row and columninterconnects. EL displays generally provide a low brightness outputbecause passive circuitry for exciting pixel phosphors typicallyoperates at a pixel excitation frequency that is low relative to theluminance decay time of the phosphor material. However, an active matrixreduces the interconnect capacitance allowing the use of high frequencyAC in order to obtain more efficient electroluminescence in the pixelphosphor. This results in increased brightness in the display.

LED displays are also used in flat-panel displays. LEDs emit light whenenergized. OLEDs operate like the LEDs except OLEDs use organic materialin the formation of the diode.

Regardless of the type of active medium used, displays are generallycomprised of at least a substrate and a backplane. The backplane formsthe electrical interconnection of the display and comprises electrodes,capacitors, and transistors in at least some embodiments of a backplane.

FIG. 1A illustrates a rigid display device wherein the active matrixdisplay backplane 10 is coupled to a rigid substrate 12. Typically, theactive matrix display backplane is also rigid. FIG. 1B shows anotherrigid display. There, the active matrix display backplane 10 is coupledto a rigid substrate 12 (e.g., glass). Also shown is a plurality ofblocks 14. These blocks may be fabricated separately and then depositedinto holes on substrate 12 by a process known as fluidic self assembly;an example of this process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,291.These blocks may each contain driver circuitry (e.g., MOSFET andcapacitor) for driving a pixel electrode. The active matrix backplaneincludes transparent pixel electrodes and row/column interconnects (notshown) to electrically interconnect the blocks 14. The plurality ofblocks 14 is coupled to the active matrix display backplane 10 and therigid substrate 12. FIG. 1C shows a reflective display 16 coupled to arigid substrate 12. FIG. 1D shows a reflective display 16 coupled to arigid substrate 12. A plurality of blocks 14 is coupled to thereflective display 16 and to the rigid substrate 12.

Placing elements, such as pixel drivers, on a rigid substrate is wellknown. Prior techniques can be generally divided into two types:deterministic methods or random methods. Deterministic methods, such aspick and place, use a human or robot arm to pick each element and placeit into its corresponding location in a different substrate. Pick andplace methods generally place devices one at a time and are generallynot applicable to very small or numerous elements such as those neededfor large arrays, such as an active matrix liquid crystal display.

Random placement techniques are more effective and result in high yieldsif the elements to be placed have the right shape. U.S. Pat. No.5,545,291 describes a method that uses random placement. In this method,microstructures are assembled onto a different substrate through fluidtransport. This is sometimes referred to as fluidic self-assembly. Usingthis technique, various blocks, each containing a functional component,may be fabricated on one substrate and then separated from thatsubstrate and assembled onto a separate rigid substrate through thefluidic self assembly (FSA) process. The blocks which are deposited ontoreceptor regions of a substrate may include any of a number of differentfunctional components, such as LEDs, pixel drivers, sensors, etc. Anexample of a particular type of block and its functional component isdescribed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/251,220 whichwas filed Feb. 16, 1999 by the inventor John Stephen Smith and which isentitled “Functionally Symmetric Integrated Circuit Die”. Thisapplication is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

As noted above, FIGS. 1B and 1D illustrate a display substrate 12 withblocks 14 formed in the rigid substrate 12. These blocks 14 may bedeposited through an FSA process. In the FSA process, a slurrycontaining the blocks 14 is deposited over the rigid substrate 12 andthe blocks 14 rest in corresponding openings in the substrate 12.

FIG. 2 shows a block 14 and a circuit element 18 on the top surface ofblock 14. Generally, blocks have a trapezoidal cross-section where thetop of the block is wider than the bottom of the block.

FIG. 3 shows block 14 in a recessed region of the rigid substrate 12.Between the block and the rigid substrate is an eutetic layer 13. Theblock has a top surface 18.

FIG. 4 shows a planar side view of a rigid substrate coupled to a rigiddisplay backplane with a plurality of blocks between the displaybackplane 30 and substrate 12. The plurality of blocks are functionallypart of the display backplane 30 and are deposited onto receptor regionsof the substrate 12. Each block drives at least one transparent pixelelectrode. The electrode pixel is fabricated over a transistor which isfabricated in the block.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of an array in an active matrix displaybackplane. The control line rows 31 and 32 in this device are coupled togate electrodes along a row and the control line columns 34 and 35 arecoupled to data drivers which supply pixel voltages which are applied tothe pixel electrodes. A column line 34 is connected to a sourceelectrode of field effect transistor (FET) 36. Another column line 35 iscoupled to a source electrode of FET 37. A row line 32 is coupled to thegates of both FETs 36 and 37. The drain of FET 36 is coupled throughcapacitor 38 to a transparent pixel electrode along the row 32 formed byFETs 36 and 37, and the drain of FET 37 is coupled through a capacitorto another pixel electrode along the row. In one typical example, thebackplane may be formed by depositing blocks, using an FSA technique,into a rigid substrate (e.g., glass); each block contains a FET and acapacitor and is interconnected to other blocks by column and rowconductors that are deposited onto the rigid substrate; and, thecapacitor is coupled to a pixel electrode by another conductor that isdeposited onto the rigid substrate. The active medium (e.g., a liquidcrystal) is deposited at least on the pixel electrodes which willoptically change the active medium's properties in response to thecombined voltages or currents produced by the pixel electrodes. Theactive medium at a given pixel electrode 42 will appear as a square ordot in the overall checkerboard type matrix of the display. The actualsize of the FETs and the pixel electrodes 42 are not now drawn to scale,but are shown schematically for the purposes of illustration. FIG. 6shows pixel electrodes 46 on top of a substrate 48.

There are several disadvantages inherent to the related art. Rigidflat-panel displays are limited in that they are generally coupled torigid objects. Flexible objects may cause too much stress on rigidflat-panel displays that could affect the electrical interconnections inrigid flat-panel displays.

Another disadvantage to these flat-panel displays is that they aremanufactured in a batch operation. Batch operations inherently involve acertain amount of down time in production. This increases productiontime to fabricate display panels. Additionally, flat-panel displays aregenerally fabricated on rigid substrates that are not continuous inlength. This also decreases productivity since the assembly of theflat-panel displays is interrupted until another substrate panel isavailable to assemble the flat-panel display.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides various apparatuses and methods forcreating a display. One aspect of the invention involves creating aflexible active matrix display. Here, a flexible active matrix displayis created by coupling an active matrix display backplane to asubstrate.

Another aspect of the invention involves a flexible continuous substrateupon which multiple flexible displays are fabricated. Here, a flexiblesubstrate is produced that has a pre-determined thickness and width, butthe length of the flexible substrate is continuous (or, at least,continuous relative to a single display). The flexible continuoussubstrate, along with the display device components, are advancedthrough a web processing apparatus and separated into individualdisplays after fabrication. The separated components may be coupled to amating display component. For example, a separated display component maybe coupled to a television or a computer.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a flexible substrate with areflective display backplane.

Another aspect of the invention relates to moving a flexible substratethrough a web process apparatus. A web process apparatus has a pluralityof support members that advance the flexible substrate through anin-line process. While the flexible substrate is moving (or while it istemporarily stopped), a slurry that contains a plurality of objects isdeposited onto the flexible substrate in a manner similar to an FSAprocess. These objects slide into receptor regions in the flexiblesubstrate. In one embodiment, the flexible substrate is coupled to adisplay tape that includes a display mechanism. The display tape is aflexible material such as polyether sulfone (PES), polyesterterephthalate, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polypropylene, polyester, aramid, polyamide-imide (PAI),polyimide, aromatic polyimides, polyetherimide, metallic materials,acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polyvinyl chloride. The substrate,such as plastic, advances through the web process apparatus. In oneembodiment, as the substrate advances through the web process apparatus,apertures are made into the substrate. Apertures are also made in thedisplay tape as it advances through the web process apparatus. Theapertures serve, in one sense, to align the substrate and the displaytape. Apertures can also be made in the display tape to allow blocks tocouple with the display tape. The final display that is produced fromthis operation of combining the substrate and the display tape may beorganic light-emitting diode, upconverting phosphorus, downconvertingphosphorus, electrophoretic liquid crystal, polymer-dispersed liquidcrystal, or cholesteric liquid crystal.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an operation that occursafter the FSA has been performed. In order to verify that the FSAprocess results in complete circuit element block placements, a “pickand place” process is utilized. This allows the blocks to be placed intoan empty recessed region onto the substrate that was missed during FSAprocess. “Pick and place” may occur on a rigid substrate or on a webprocess material. The substrate is first checked for empty recessedregions. This is done by using an electronic eye viewing the substratefor empty recessed regions. Once an empty recessed region is detected, arobot is used to “pick and place” an object into an empty recessedregion of the substrate.

Another aspect of the invention relates to web processing whereindisplay material (e.g., display material that provides a displaymechanism such as an upconverting phosphorus) is deposited or patternedthrough an in-line process during the fabrication of displays. Thismethod involves a flexible substrate wherein display material is placedonto the flexible substrate. This process is repeated for each displaythat is manufactured. The flexible substrate, which may be considered adisplay tape, is then coupled to a backplane that is on a separatesubstrate.

In one embodiment, the substrate has apertures that are added through alaser, punch press, template, or other operation. While the substrate isadvanced through the in-line process, the FSA process is applied to thesubstrate. This allows the blocks to drop into the plurality of recessedregions in the substrate. The substrate is then advanced to the nextoperation wherein an interconnect is deposited. The substrate is thencoupled to the display tape (either separating the sections of displaysor before separating the displays from the tape).

While an array of components (e.g., display components) for an assemblyhave been described as examples of the invention, an array of otherassemblies such as x-ray detectors, radar detectors,micro-electro-mechanical structural elements (MEMS) or, generally, anassembly of sensors or actuators or an assembly of circuit elements alsomay be produced using the claimed invention. Thus, for example, flexibleantennas, other sensors, detectors, or an array of circuit elements maybe fabricated using one of the embodiments of the inventions. Otheraspects and methods of the present invention as well as apparatusesformed using these methods are described further below in conjunctionwith the following figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example. The invention isnot limited to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1A shows a planar side view of an active matrix display backplanecoupled to a rigid substrate.

FIG. 1B shows a planar side view of an active matrix display backplanecoupled to a rigid substrate wherein a plurality of blocks are part ofthe active matrix display.

FIG. 1C shows a planar side view of a reflective display backplanecoupled to a rigid substrate.

FIG. 1D shows a planar side view of a reflective display backplanecoupled to a rigid substrate wherein a plurality of blocks are coupledto the reflective display and to the rigid substrate.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a circuit element block.

FIG. 3 shows a planar side view of blocks in recessed regions of therigid substrate and a metalization surface on the blocks.

FIG. 4 shows a planar side view of a rigid substrate coupled to a rigiddisplay backplane with a plurality of blocks between the displaybackplane and substrate.

FIG. 5 schematically represents a portion of an array of an activematrix backplane.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a plurality of pixel electrodes in abackplane.

FIG. 7A shows a planar side view of a flexible display device wherein anactive matrix display backplane is coupled to a flexible substrate.

FIG. 7B shows a planar side view of a flexible display device wherein anactive matrix display backplane is formed on a flexible substratewherein a plurality of blocks are formed on the flexible substrate andflexible interconnect layers and pixel electrodes are deposited onto theflexible substrate.

FIG. 7C shows a top view of a flexible display device comprising anactive matrix display backplane coupled to a flexible substrate whereinthe flexible display device is coupled to an object.

FIG. 8A shows a top view of an active matrix display backplane.

FIG. 8B shows the top view of a passive matrix display backplane

FIG. 8C shows the top layer of a passive matrix display backplane.

FIG. 8D shows a bottom layer of a passive matrix display backplane.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the method of assembling a flexible displayalong the length of a flexible substrate.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the method of manufacturing multipleflexible displays along a flexible substrate.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of a flexible substrate with multiple displaycomponents fabricated thereon.

FIG. 12A shows a top view of a display component that has a passivematrix display backplane attached thereto.

FIG. 12B shows a top view of a display component that has an activematrix display backplane attached thereto.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of flexible substrate attached to a displaybackplane.

FIG. 14A shows a planar side view of a backplane interconnect layercoupled to a flexible substrate.

FIG. 14B shows a planar side view of a backplane interconnect layercoupled to a flexible substrate wherein blocks are coupled to thebackplane interconnect layer and to the flexible substrate.

FIG. 14C shows a planar side view of a flexible reflective displaycoupled to a flexible substrate that has holes or recesses to acceptblocks.

FIG. 15A shows a flow chart of a method of fabricating a display devicewherein a flexible substrate and a display tape undergo processing andare subsequently coupled.

FIG. 15B shows schematically a method of fabricating a display devicewherein a flexible substrate and a display tape undergo processing andare subsequently coupled.

FIG. 16 shows a flow chart of a method of the picking and placingobjects onto a flexible substrate after the FSA process has been appliedto the substrate.

FIG. 17 shows a flow chart that relates to the FSA process and thecoupling of the display material to the substrate.

FIG. 18 shows a top view of a flexible continuous substrate whereindisplays of different sizes are created.

FIG. 19 shows a top view of a flexible continuous substrate whereindisplays of similar size are created.

FIG. 20 shows a planar side view of the recessed regions in thesubstrate.

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of the overall in-line process of theinvention.

FIG. 22 shows a top view of display material being placed through ascreen onto display tape

FIG. 23 shows a top view of display material being laser etched ontodisplay tape.

FIG. 24 shows a top view of display material wherein lithography is usedto pattern the display material.

FIG. 25 shows a top view of display material that is deposited in apattern onto display tape.

FIG. 26A shows a planar side view of a substrate.

FIG. 26B shows openings or receptor regions created and blocks depositedinto the substrate.

FIG. 26C shows deposition of planarization material and openings beingcreated into the substrate.

FIG. 26D shows deposition of interconnect and pattern interconnect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for formingdisplays. The following description and drawings are illustrative of theinvention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

One embodiment in accordance with the invention includes a flexibleactive matrix display panel coupled to a substrate. By fabricating anactive matrix display device that is flexible, the active matrix displaypanel can be fitted to an object that is either rigid or flexible andthat has a non-planar surface. Other embodiments of the inventioninclude a method of making a flexible continuous substrate upon whichmultiple flexible displays are fabricated. The multiple flexibledisplays may be of similar or different sizes. These displays areseparated from one another as the substrate is advanced through the webprocessing apparatus. The backplane of the display may be comprised of aplurality of blocks wherein each block has a circuit element thereon.The blocks are contained in a slurry that is deposited onto the flexiblesubstrate. Although blocks may be comprised of single crystal silicon orother like material which makes the block rigid, the substrate may stillbe flexible because the size of these blocks (50×100 microns or 100×100microns) is small in comparison to the flexible substrate. These blocksmay also have recessed regions wherein another micro-electro-mechanicalstructural element may be deposited thereon. The flexible substrateforms part of a display backplane. The flexible displays may be eitheran active matrix or a passive matrix displays.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a flexible substrate witha reflective display backplane.

Another embodiment of the invention involves using FSA generally with aflexible web processed material. Incorporated by reference is U.S. Pat.No. 5,545,291 explaining how to assemble microstructures onto asubstrate. With embodiments of the invention, a flexible substrate isadvanced through a web process apparatus. The FSA with a plurality ofblocks (or other functional elements) is deposited onto the flexiblesubstrate wherein the blocks fall into recessed regions found in theflexible substrate. The substrate is then advanced to a further point inthe process wherein an interconnect layer is deposited onto thesubstrate. While the substrate is advanced, a display tape is advancedto a point wherein the flexible substrate becomes coupled to the displaytape.

Before the coupling takes place, a metal interconnect is placed onto thebackplane. A display material is then deposited onto the display tape.The display material may be cholesteric liquid crystal,polymer-dispersed liquid crystal or other type of material. The displaymaterial is layered or patterned on the display tape. The display tapeis then advanced to a point wherein the metal interconnect is depositedor etched on the display material. This is done by using laser etch, inkjet, screen print, deposit, or lithography and etch. After this point,the display tape may be laser cut, punched, sealed, or trimmed. Couplingtakes place at a point further along in the process.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to the FSA process wherein,after the blocks are deposited on the substrate, they fall into recessedregions found in the substrate. After a certain time period, thesubstrate is checked for any existing empty recessed regions. Findingempty recessed regions is accomplished by using an electronic eyeattached to a machine that is able to view the surface of the substrate.A robot or a person is used to place an object on an empty recessedregion.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to FSA being applied to asubstrate that has a first receptor region and a second receptor region.These regions may be of similar or different sizes. The objects that arecontained in the slurry drop into the respective receptor regions thatmost closely match the size of the object.

A continuous process as in the invention offers the advantage ofincreasing the number of flat-panel displays produced, thereby reducingthe cost of manufacturing the displays. FSA in conjunction with adeterministic method of placing blocks (e.g., “pick and place”) withcircuit elements of objects onto a rigid substrate or a web processmaterial is disclosed. In this aspect of the invention, the recessedregions of the substrate are checked for empty regions. If there is anempty recessed region in the substrate, an object is robotically placedinto the empty recessed region. The advantage offered by roboticallyplacing an object into an empty recessed region of a substrate is thatit increases the overall effectiveness and the quality of the displays.

In the following description, numerous specific details such as specificmaterials, processing parameters, processing steps, etc., are set forthin order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that these details need not bespecifically adhered to in order to practice the claimed invention. Inother instances, well known processing steps, materials, etc. are notset forth in order not to obscure the invention.

FIG. 6 shows pixel electrodes 46 on top of a substrate 48.

FIG. 7A shows a flexible display device, one embodiment of theinvention. Here, an active matrix display backplane is coupled to aflexible substrate 52. The active matrix may include pixel electrodesand spatial light modulars. FIG. 7B shows a flexible display devicewherein the active matrix display backplane 50 is coupled to a flexiblesubstrate 52. Bistable crystal may be used in conjunction with theflexible substrate 52. A display of this type may be used in creditcards or some other type of card that has flexibility. Blocks 54 aredeposited onto the flexible substrate and are part of the active matrixdisplay backplane. The block 54 comprises an active circuit element (notshown) that drives a picture element (not shown). FIG. 7C shows the topview of a flexible display device wherein an active matrix displaybackplane 50 is coupled to a flexible substrate 52. The flexible displaydevice is coupled to an object 56. The flexible display device conformsto the shape of the object 56.

FIG. 8A shows an active matrix display backplane 60. The plurality ofblocks in the active matrix display backplane contain the active circuitelement. This display backplane is flexible. FIG. 8B shows a passivematrix display backplane 62. This display backplane is flexible. FIG. 8Cshows the top layer of a passive matrix backplane. FIG. 8D shows thebottom layer of a passive matrix backplane.

FIG. 9 shows one method of assembling a flexible display along thelength of a flexible substrate 70 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. First, blocks are assembled into the openings of theflexible substrate. Utilizing an FSA process, a plurality of blocks aredeposited in a slurry that go into the recessed regions of the flexiblesubstrate. Planarization of the assembly of blocks into substrate 72 isthe next step. Planarization takes place by depositing a material thatmay be spun to flatten or may be subjected to conventionalchemical-mechanical polishing. Then, the electrical coupling of theplurality of blocks takes place at step 74 by opening holes in theplanarization layer and depositing metalization material or otherconductive materials into the holes and beyond the holes to form aninterconnect (e.g., a row or column interconnect). The interconnectbetween the rows and columns is comprised of flexible and conductivematerial. For example, the interconnect could be made of conductivepolymers, metals (e.g., aluminum, copper, silver, gold, etc.), metalparticles, conductive organic compounds, or conductive oxides. Thedisplay is made to conform the object's shape 78. It should be notedthat the operations for forming the display may be done in a differentorder than that found in FIG. 9 and thus the operation 78 may beperformed after operation 80. A display generation substrate (e.g., aPDLC layer) is coupled to the active matrix backplane 80.

FIG. 10 shows a method of manufacturing multiple displays along aflexible substrate. Multiple display components are created on aflexible substrate 200. The flexible substrate is advanced to a secondregion on the substrate 202. A new display component is created on theflexible substrate in a different region of the substrate 204 byadvancing the flexible substrate through a web processing of apparatus206 and coupling a display material to the substrate 208. Separation ofthe display panel occurs at the end of thee process 210.

FIG. 11 shows a flexible substrate with multiple display components. Theflexible substrate 220 has display component 222 and display component224 attached thereto. The substrate has three lengths: a first length226, a second length 228, and a third length 230. Display components 222and 224 are active matrix display devices.

FIG. 12A shows display component 222 that has a passive matrix displaybackplane attached thereto. FIG. 12B shows a display component 224 thathas an active matrix display backplane attached thereto.

FIG. 13 shows a flexible substrate 50 attached to a display backplane.

FIG. 14A shows a reflective display backplane 48 coupled to a flexiblesubstrate 46. FIG. 14B shows a flexible reflective display backplane 48coupled to a substrate 46. Blocks 14 are coupled to the flexiblesubstrate 46 and to the flexible reflective display backplane 48. Thereflective display backplane includes an interconnect layer 45. Thisinterconnect layer 45 typically is comprised of metallic material.Coupled to the flexible substrate is a flexible reflector 48. FIG. 14Cshows a flexible reflective display wherein recessed region 45 containsreflective material 44. The substrate 46 is coupled to the reflectivedisplay backplane 48.

FIG. 15A shows a method of fabricating a display device wherein aflexible substrate and a display tape undergo processing and aresubsequently coupled. There, the flexible substrate is advanced along aprocess line 500. A slurry containing a plurality of blocks is dispensedonto the flexible substrate 502. A second slurry containing a pluralityof blocks is again dispensed onto the substrate. Excess slurry iscollected in a container and is recycled. The blocks fall into recessedregions in the substrate. Adhesives and spacers are deposited onto thesubstrate 504. Display material is placed onto the substrate 508. Thismaterial may comprise polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, cholestericliquid crystal, electrophoretic liquid crystal, upconverting phosphor,or downconverting phosphor 512.

FIG. 15B shows the overall process of fabricating a display devicewherein a flexible substrate 120 and a display tape 160 undergoprocessing and are subsequently coupled. There, the flexible substrateis advanced along a first process line and advances through a first setof support members 122. A first slurry 124 containing a plurality ofblocks is dispensed onto the flexible substrate. A second slurry 126containing a plurality of blocks is again dispensed onto the substrate.Excess slurry is collected in a container 128 and is recycled. Theblocks fall into recessed regions in the substrate. It should be notedthat a polarizing or retarding film could be deposited onto thesubstrate before the FSA process is applied to the substrate. Flexiblesubstrate 120 is advanced through a second set of support members 130.An interconnect 132 is then deposited onto flexible substrate 120. Theflexible substrate is then advanced to point 134. In conjunction withthis process, display tape 160 undergoes a separate process. Displaymaterial is placed onto at least one side of the display tape 160.Display tape 160 is advanced through a first set of support members 164.The display material is patterned or layered 168. This display materialmay comprise polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, cholesteric liquidcrystal, electrophoretic liquid crystal, upconverting phosphor, ordownconverting phosphor. Display tape 160 is advanced through a secondset of support members 170. An interconnect 172 is either deposited oretched onto the display tape 160. The display tape is then advanced topoint 134 where the display tape is coupled to the substrate. A conveyorbelt 174 surrounds the support members.

While the process may follow these steps, it should be noted that it isalso possible that one portion of the display will be singulated priorto the display tape being attached to the substrate.

FIG. 16 relates to a method of picking and placing of objects onto aflexible substrate after the FSA process has been applied to thesubstrate. A slurry containing a plurality of objects is dispensed ontothe substrate 90. The objects fall into recessed regions in thesubstrate. The excess slurry is collected and recycled 91. The substrateis checked for empty recessed regions 92. This checking is performed byan electronic eye that views the substrate. Objects are roboticallyplaced into empty regions found in substrate 94. A metalization materialis placed onto at least one of the substrate's surfaces and is patternedor etched 96. The display tape is coupled to the substrate 98.

FIG. 17 relates to the FSA process and the coupling of the displaymaterial with the substrate. First, a slurry containing a plurality ofblocks is deposited onto the substrate 400. If the recessed regions areof equivalent size, step 450 is then followed. If not, a first slurrywith a first plurality of objects is deposited onto the substrate 410.Excess slurry is caught and recycled 415. Once this step is performed, asecond slurry with a second plurality of objects is placed onto thesubstrate 420. Excess second slurry is recycled into a second container425. A metal interconnect is then deposited onto the substrate 435.After these steps, a display material is deposited onto the substrate430.

FIG. 18 shows a flexible continuous substrate wherein two displays arecreated. Display device 52 is larger than display device 50. This showsthat multiple displays of different sizes can be created on thesubstrate through an in-line process. Alternatively, FIG. 19 showsdisplays 54 and 56 of similar size.

In addition to multiple displays being able to be made different sizes,the substrate itself may have different sized recessed regions. Thisallows the substrate to receive various sized blocks or devices. FIG. 20shows a cross-sectional view of the recessed regions in the substrate.Recessed region 65 is smaller than recessed region 67.

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of the overall in-line process of theinvention. A web apparatus machine 119 is used to process the substrate.At step 120, apertures are created in the flexible substrate. Theseapertures can be created by a number of methods. For example, theapertures can be punched into the substrate. Another method involvesusing a template to create the apertures. A laser, chemical or plasmaetching could also be used to create the apertures. The substrateadvances over a plurality of support members 122. The substrate goes inbetween support members 123 and 123B. The FSA process is applied to thesubstrate. FSA comprises a slurry that contains a plurality offunctional blocks. These blocks have, in one embodiment, a circuitelement (not shown) that drives the picture element (not shown). The FSAprocess occurs at block 124. It is then applied again at 126. The excessslurry is collected in container 128. Then, the flexible substrateadvances through support members 130. The flexible substrate then has aninterconnect 131 deposited on the top of the flexible substrate 132. Theresulting flexible substrate advances over a guide member and meets at apoint 134 wherein it is coupled to a display tape that in one embodimentis a flexible substrate that includes separate regions each having adisplay material on this flexible substrate. A different portion of theprocess involves the display tape 160. Before the display tape iscoupled with the substrate, the display tape goes through its ownseparate process that is described below.

The display tape has display material 162 deposited on at least one sideof the display tape. There are a variety of ways that display materialmay be deposited onto the display tape. For example, display materialmay be sprayed onto the display tape. The display material also may beplaced on a screen over the display tape. Another method is to place thedisplay tape into a container that holds the display material. Thedisplay tape advances through support members 164. The display tape thenhas display material layered or patterned on the display tape at 168.This display tape then advances through another plurality of supportmembers 170. A large area metal interconnect is then deposited or etchedonto the display tape 172. This may be performed by inkjet, lithographyand etch, screen print, laser etch, or deposit 174. In one embodiment ofthe invention, this large interconnect is a cover glass electrode. Atpoint 134, the display tape is coupled with a substrate.

FIG. 22 shows a display material being placed through a screen 180 ontodisplay tape 168. The screen 180 has a desired pattern created by holesthat go through the screen 180. This desired pattern may be dictated bya customer or by the manufacturer.

Another method of placing display material onto the display tape isshown in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 shows a top view of display material beinglaser etched onto display tape 168. The etching occurs when the highintensity light from the laser 182 strikes the display material on topof the display tape 168. A pattern is created in the display material bythe laser 182.

Another method of depositing display material is shown in FIG. 24. FIG.24 shows lithography being used to pattern the display material.Lithography involves using a block 183 with a pattern engraved in thebottom surface of the block 183. The bottom surface of the block 183contacts the display material.

FIG. 25 shows yet another method of depositing display material onto thedisplay tape. There display material is deposited in a pattern onto thedisplay tape 168. The display material is deposited by a container 183that contains the display material. The container 183 is placed over thedisplay tape 168. The display material drops onto the display tape 168in a pattern.

FIGS. 26A-26D shows generally the process of planarization materialbeing added onto the substrate. FIG. 26A shows a planar side view of asubstrate 190. FIG. 26B shows openings or receptor regions 192 createdand blocks deposited into the substrate. FIG. 26C shows deposition ofplanarization material 194 and openings being created into thesubstrate. FIG. 26D shows deposition of interconnect 198 and patterninterconnect.

While an array of components (e.g. display components) for an assemblyhave been described as examples of the invention, an array of otherassemblies such as x-ray detectors, radar detectors,micro-electro-mechanical structural elements (MEMS) or, generally, anassembly of sensors or actuators or an assembly of circuit elements alsomay be produced using the claimed invention. Thus, for example, flexibleantennas, other sensors, detectors, or an array of circuit elements maybe fabricated using one of the embodiments of the inventions. Otheraspects and methods of the present invention as well as apparatusesformed using these methods are described further below in conjunctionwith the following figures.

Listed below are related U.S. patent applications that describe variousimprovements to the methods and devices of the invention describedherein. These patent applications are incorporated by reference.Additionally, a U.S. patent is also incorporated by reference.

Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/270,157, entitled“Methods for Transferring Elements From A Template To A Substrate”,filed by Jeffrey J. Jacobsen, Mark A. Hadley, and John Stephen Smith andassigned to the same Assignee of the present invention, describe an FSAon a template with transfer to another substrate. These co-pendingapplications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/270,159, entitled“Methods and Apparatuses for Fabricating A Multiple Module Assembly”,filed by Jeffrey J. Jacobsen, Glenn Wilhelm Gengel, and Gordon S. W.Craig and assigned to the same Assignee as the present invention,describes an electronic modular assembly. This co-pending application ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/270,147, entitled“Apparatuses and Methods Used in Forming Electronic Assemblies”, filedby Jeffrey J. Jacobsen, Glenn Wilhelm Gengel, and John Stephen Smith andassigned to the same Assignee as the present invention, describes amethod of molding substances. This co-pending application is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/268,755, entitled “WebProcess Interconnect in Electronic Assemblies”, filed by Jeffrey J.Jacobsen, Glenn Wilhelm Gengel, Mark A. Hadley, Gordon S. W. Craig, andJohn Stephen Smith and assigned to the same Assignee as the presentinvention, describes a method of creating various interconnects on a webtape. This co-pending application is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/270,165, entitled“Apparatuses and Methods for Forming Assemblies”, filed by Jeffrey J.Jacobsen and assigned to the same Assignee as the present invention,describes a method of rolling blocks into their recessed regions. Thisco-pending application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,291 entitled “Method for Fabricating Self-AssemblingMicrostructures,” filed by John S. Smith and Hsi-Jen J. Yeh, issued Aug.13, 1996.

In the preceding detailed description, the invention is described withreference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evidentthat various modifications and changes may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, tobe regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

1. A flexible display device comprising: a flexible substrate; and anactive matrix display backplane coupled to said substrate wherein saidactive matrix display backplane comprises a plurality of differentshaped blocks that are deposited onto one of said flexible substrate anda polarizing film.
 2. The flexible display device as in claim 1 whereinsaid display device conforms to a desired shape of an object which isplanar when said flexible display device is attached to said object. 3.The flexible display device as in claim 1 wherein said display deviceconforms to a desired shape of an object which is non-planar when saidflexible display device is attached to said object.
 4. The flexibledisplay device as in claim 1 wherein each of said blocks comprises anactive circuit element which drives a picture element.
 5. The flexibledisplay device as in claim 1 further comprising: a display generationsubstrate coupled to said active matrix backplane.
 6. The flexibledisplay device as in claim 1 wherein said active matrix backplanecomprises at least one electrode for each picture element.
 7. Theflexible display device as in claim 1 wherein said active matrix displayis conformal.
 8. A flexible display device comprising: a flexiblesubstrate; a passive matrix display backplane coupled to said flexiblesubstrate; and said passive matrix display backplane comprises aplurality of blocks that are deposited onto said flexible substrate. 9.The flexible display device as in claim 8 wherein said display deviceconforms to a desired shape of an object which is planar when saidflexible display device is attached to said object.
 10. The flexibledisplay device as in claim 8 wherein said display device conforms to adesired shape of an object which is non-planar when said flexibledisplay device is attached to said object.
 11. The flexible displaydevice as in claim 8 wherein each of said blocks comprises a circuitelement which drives a picture element.
 12. The flexible display deviceas in claim 8 further comprising: a display generation substrate coupledto said passive matrix backplane.
 13. A display device comprising: aflexible substrate; and a flexible reflective display backplane coupledto said flexible substrate wherein said flexible reflective displaybackplane comprises a plurality of shaped blocks which are depositedonto said flexible substrate.
 14. The display device as in claim 13wherein said display device conforms to a desired shape of an objectwhen said flexible display device is attached to said object.
 15. Theflexible display device as in claim 13 wherein each of said shapedblocks comprises a circuit element which drives a picture element. 16.The display device as in claim 13 further comprising: a displaygeneration substrate coupled to said flexible reflective displaybackplane.
 17. The display device as in claim 13 wherein said flexiblereflective display backplane comprises at least one electrode for eachpicture element.
 18. The display device as in claim 13 wherein saiddisplay is conformal.
 19. The display device as in claim 13 wherein saidsubstrate has at least one recessed region, said recessed region isreflective.